>http://www.msnbc.com/news/931238.asp?cp1=1
>
>I rarely get involved with political stuff -
>but -
>this directly affects the business of programming .
>I have my own firm so its not affecting me -
>but if you are on hourly rate as a programmer - this will affect you
>greatly.
>If you are a member of ACM [see http://www.acm.org] I strongly suggest you
>contact their lobbying
>group and get involved any way you can.
>mondo regards [Bill]

Bill;

One of the interesting arguments is that this will “increase the number of jobs”. The concept is that by not paying overtime more people will be employed. At age 61 I have had some experience with the working world. What happens when you do not pay overtime is simple! You expect team members to work longer hours. You do not hire additional help. There are business courses on this subject that I took over 30 years ago and I see no change in the reality around me.

Books have been published for decades about how to save money on salaries. You simply make everyone Exempt and they receive no overtime. They can legally be worked 24/7.

Factor in the cost to run a business, cost of utilities, rent, etc. It is cheaper to run 24/7 as opposed to one shift of 8 hours, as long as there is a need for productivity. In some areas of manufacturing this is true. In others it is not.

Additionally, to hire personal is a cost factor – medical insurance, additional taxes paid by companies in the form of social security and others, retirement, space utilization, computers, furniture, and I could go on. It is cheaper to keep one shift and run them 24/7. When they die you replace them with any of the members of the unemployed who are standing in line waiting for the chance to work again.

My grandfather was born 1890 and told me of some of his experiences. One thing he told me was, “The worst thing that ever happened to this country was the forty hour week”! Why did he say that? Many people were out of work and the concept behind this law was that it would generate more jobs during the Great Depression. It did not! However, business owners were at an advantage!

Up until the 40-hour week in this country the normal workweek was 56 hours. Ten hours a day (Monday through Friday) and six hours on Saturday. Establishments would pay you an hourly rate but for 40 hours and not 56. You worked the extra hours without pay.

Saturday was payday. Every workman wore his best suit and hat on this day even if he dug ditches for a living. This was a way to show respect for the owner of the business. At the end of your Saturday 6 hour shift you stood in line with the other men to meet the pay master or owner of the business who would give you your wages. You shook hands and tipped your hat to show respect to the person giving you your check. My grandfather told me this and I saw films done as documentaries on the subject. Times have changed.

I could give many examples and references to the above. It is interesting to note the relationships between labor, management and government over the years.

Tom